CaféNOiR burgundy leather heeled ankle boots, EU40, NWT, defects

CaféNOiR is a Milanese shoe brand that has been around for about 25 years, producing a wide range of classic and trendy styles at lower-mid-range prices. Quality is somewhere between Jessica Simpson and Pour la Victoire levels, so fairly decent although occasionally quality control isn't the greatest. That said,for the most part I really like their range of styles. These boots for example, are classic without being boring or stuffy. The leather uppers are dyed a gorgeous burgundy shade with an almost watercolor kind of shade variance which I assume is the intended effect, but the application was slightly splotchy in a couple spots. Not really noticeable if you're wearing them. These are lovely boots, but the most fatal flaw is the partially seized zipper on the left boot. After spending some time working it & waxing the teeth, I managed to get it all the way down, but only 1 in 10 attempts worked. I didn't try with the boot on! If I was keeping this pair, I would absolutely replace that zipper, (just the one, other one works fine) which any decent shoe repair should be able to manage at a reasonable cost. So while this pair is a fixer-upper, you will end up with a great pair of boots. Marked size EU40, they're snug on my size 9.5 feet but exactly how I want them to fit with a 3.25" heel. Price reflects the need for zipper replacement (a lot less than I paid for them)